U.S. employers increasingly rely on incentives to drive participation in health programs and to encourage employees and their families to take better care of themselves, according to survey findings from Aon Hewitt.

More hiring has yet to lead to more pay. While U.S. unemployment fell from 10% in October 2009 to 8.3% in August 2012, it has not been enough to boost salary budget increases and, subsequently, employee wages, according to WorldatWork, an association of total rewards professionals.

As the economy begins to improve, employers across the board are finding it more difficult to retain key talent -- employees who are the strongest performers, have high potential or are in critical jobs. That’s among the findings revealed by a survey of primarily U.S.-based mid-level to senior-level rewards professionals, as reported in Retention of Key Talent and the Role of Rewards, a report published in June 2012 by WorldatWork, an association of total rewards professionals.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission’s (EEOC) guidance on criminal background checks in hiring issued in April was necessary to update guidance last issued more than 20 years ago, according to former commission vice chair Leslie Silverman, now a partner at Proskauer Rose LLP in Washington, D.C.

Michaels Stores has announced the establishment of an interim office of the CEO to provide ongoing leadership and continuity for the business in the absence of current CEO John Menzer. Sharing the interim CEO duties will be Lew Klessel, managing director with Bain Capital Partners, and Charles "Chuck" Sonsteby, the company's chief administrative officer and CFO.

The San Diego chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) has recognized HD Supply Facilities Maintenance.

HD Supply Facilities Maintenance was recently honored with the 2011 Marble Award (First Place) in the large company category of the Workplace Excellence Awards, presented by the San Diego Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).

After a series of talks, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) has agreed to give Relational Investors, the activist investment firm, an option to appoint its co-founder to ITW’s board of directors.

Based in San Diego, Relational Investors typically buys stocks in companies it wants a role in managing, including a seat on the board of directors. Proposals often include change in executive compensation salaries and a boost in shareholder values.

One of the top stories this week was the introduction of Robert Marchbank as CEO of Denver-based ProBuild Holdings. Marchbank is s former executive with Wolseley, where he led European businesses, among other positions.

ProBuild Holdings has announced the appointment of Robert Marchbank, the former CEO of European operations for Wolseley, as its new CEO. Fred Marino, who had filled the role of interim CEO for the past several months, will continue to serve as vice chairman of the company’s board of directors.

More jobs than expected were created in December as the national unemployment rate fell to its lowest level since February 2009.

According to the Employment Situation Summary released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, nonfarm payroll rose by 200,000 in December, and the unemployment rate declined slightly to 8.5% -- down from a revised 8.7% in November.

Analysts and economists had expected about 150,000 new jobs in December.

York, Pa.-based building products company WOLF renamed and reorganized several divisions amid a slew of new appointments.

The restructuring will result in a reduction in the number of business units from 13 to seven for the company that said it is continuing its transition from a traditional distributor to "an innovative new supply-chain model."

ProBuild Holdings has named Don Riley, the former CIO of Mohawk, as its new executive VP supply chain and technology. In this role, Riley will be responsible for integrating ProBuild’s supply chain, information technology and manufacturing organizations, including developing strategies and programs to improve the company’s overall operational effectiveness, grow market share and maximize profitability.

ABC Supply, the nation’s largest distributor of roofing, has promoted Mike Boggs to director of operations, a newly created position. In his new role, Boggs is responsible for championing, developing and implementing critical operational initiatives, including continued improvement of the company’s Customer Service Delivery System (CSDS), inventory management, fleet optimization, outside sales management, response to storms, and the leveraging of technology to enhance internal service quality and customer service.

Central Garden & Pet has announced the promotion of Paul Hibbert to senior VP supply chain. Hibbert will be responsible for all aspects of the company's consolidated supply chain operations, including manufacturing, warehousing, procurement, inventory management and distribution. He reports to Gus Halas, president and CEO of Central Operating Companies.

San Diego-based HD Supply Facilities Maintenance announced the opening of its newest distribution center in Jacksonville, Fla.

The new DC is the 39th in the company’s operations network in North America. The company also operates a DC in Lakeland, Fla. HD Supply Facilities Maintenance is a leading distributor of maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) products.

“The location of our newest distribution center will allow us to better service the area," said Anesa Chaibi, president and CEO of HD Supply Facilities Maintenance.

Standard Pacific Homes, the Southern California-based home builder, has announced that CEO Ken Campbell is leaving the company. Campbell will resign from his role as CEO and member of the board of directors on Jan. 1, 2012.

Scott Stowell, the company’s president, will now begin to assume day-to-day management of the company, according to a Jan. 12 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Stowell will receive the title of CEO and will join the board of directors in January.

Sears Holdings announced that former UPS executive Raj Penkar is joining the company as SVP and president of the company's supply chain.

In his new role, Penkar will be accountable for all aspects of the company's supply chain, including logistics, warehousing, inventory management and distribution. Prior to joining Sears, Penkar worked at UPS for 24 years and most recently served as president of UPS' customer solutions division.

On July 11, Greatwide Logistics Services announced the selection of John P. Tague as its new CEO. Mr. Tague comes to the new position after eight years with United Airlines, where he served as President as well as other senior leadership positions including Chief Operating Officer and Chief Revenue Officer.

The next phase for Home Depot's supply chain transformation is the implementation of a new forecasting and replenishment system within the company's 19 rapid deployment centers (RDCs).

"This new system integrates our store and DC systems and is an important step in improving the throughput and productivity of our overall supply chain," said Ted Decker, the Atlanta-based retailer's senior VP U.S. Retail, speaking at the recent Oppenheimer & Co. Consumer Conference.

“The concept of consistent, incremental improvement applies to just about everything we do,” said Ron Beal, the CEO of Memphis, Tenn.-based distributor Orgill.

In that sentence, Beal captured the essence of the distributor’s spirit of improvement. There’s no single hero, no silver bullet and no rainmaker. Instead, Beal describes an environment of measuring, benchmarking and improving. And the results were impressive in 2010, a difficult year for home products. Orgill posted 2010 sales of $1.179 billion, up 9.3% over $1.079 billion in the prior year.

Shoplifting, employee theft and organized crime have combined to boost retail shrinkage to 1.58%, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF). These preliminary results, compiled from a survey conducted by Dr. Richard Hollinger of the University of Florida, compare with a 1.44% shrinkage rate in 2009.

According to the survey, total retail losses cost retailers $37.1 billion last year, up from $33.5 billion in 2009. NRF’s recently released Organized Retail Crime survey found that 95% of retailers have been victims of organized retail crime over the last 12 months.